Drive-chain link



' (ModeL) A. S. HELD DRIVE CHAIN LINK.

No. 281,995. PatentedJuly 24', 1883.

A TT ORNE Y N FEIERS. Phmwum bher, Washivlgkm o. c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST S. HELD, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

DRIVE-CHAIN LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat 1, AUGUST S. HELD, a resident of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chain Links; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improved drive-chain link of that class which may be readily attached together to form a chain, or separated when so connected, but which are practically r 5 free from liability to accidental disconnection.

Its form and mode of connection are shown in the accompanying drawings, and described in the following specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of two links coupled and lying in the same plane; Fig. 2, a side view of same; Figs. 3 and 4, views showing successive positions of two links in coupling, and Fig. 5 an end view of a link showing form of cylindrical end bar.

As shown, the link is an open rectangle,

. having cylindrical side bars, a cylindrical end bar at one end and ahook-carrying end bar at the other end. The cylindrical end bar has a diameter greater than that of the side bars, but is reduced by notches, FF, Fig. 5, on opposite sides of the end bar, but at the same end thereof and just within the side bar. The end bar opposite the cylindrical end bar and parallel therewith is provided with an open hook of a length slightly less than the interior width of the link, having an interior diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical end bar, and an opening from end to end of a width slightly greater than the diameter of the side bars, except at the end opposite the reduced or notched end of the cylindrical end bar, where its width is reduced by two opposite lugs, one on the lip of the hook, the other on the end bar, the distance between the lugs 45 being slightly greater than the thickness of the cylindrical end bar at its reduced portion.

In Fig. 1, 1} B are the cylindrical side bars;

D, the cylindrical end bar; E, the opposite end bar; 0, the hook 5 d e, the lugs contracting part of Letters Patent No. 281,995, dated July 24, 1883.

Application filed October 16, 1882. (Modem the width of the opening in the hook; and F, one of the notches in the cylindrical end bar,

the other notch being on the opposite side thereof.

To couple two links they are placed in the relative positions shown in Fig. 3, the notches in the cylindrical end bar of one link being immediately above the lugs on opposite sides of the opening in the hook of the other link. The angle between the links in this position is shown by B B in Fig. 2. By moving the end bar D, Fig. 3, in the direction indicated by the arrow the reduced portion thereof passes between the lugs of the open hook, and the two links assume the position shown in Fig. 4, when a longitudinal movement of the end bar brings it into the position shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 4.. From this position a movement-of rotation about the cylindrical end bar as an axis brings the two links into V the same plane, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. WVhen so coupled, the lugs or projections on the open hooks are at one side of the chain, and the notches in the cylindrical end bars at the other side thereof.

The operation of uncoupling is the reverse of that of coupling.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An, open rectangular drive-chain link hav- 8c ing cylindrical side bars, A B, enlarged cylindrical end bar D, reduced at one end by parallel notches F F, and hook-carrying end bar E, provided with open hook C, and lugs (l c, said lugs being at the end of said hook oppo- 85 site the notched end of the cylindrical end. bar, and said links when coupled forming a chain in which said lugs are at one side and said notches or reductions at the other side, substantially as shown and described, and for c the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib:

ing witnesses.

' AUGUST S. HELD.

\Vitnesses:

ROBERT H. WILEs, J. A. SnUL z. 

